Windows Vista provides three power plans that you can use or configure to meet your needs. Power plans manage how your computer uses power by saving energy, maximizing system performance, or achieving a balance between the two. The preconfigured power plans are:
Balanced offers full performance when necessary and saves power during periods of inactivity.
Power saver saves power by reducing system performance to maximize the life of the battery.
High performance provides the highest level of performance by adapting processor speed to your activity and maximizing performance.
To select a power plan:
Click Start®Control Panel®System and Maintenance ®Power
Options.
Click the option you want to use.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about power plans, see Windows Help and Support: click Start
or ® Help and Support.
Power Management States
Sleep
Sleep saves power by saving your open documents and programs, and allowing your computer to quickly resume full operation when you are ready to start again.
To put your computer to sleep:
Click Start and move the pointer to the arrow icon by the Lock button. Then click Sleep.
OR
Depending on how you set the power management options, you may also use one of the following methods to put your computer to sleep:
Press the power button.
Close the display for a laptop computer.
Press <Fn><Esc>.
To wake your computer, depending on how you set the power management options:
Press the power button.
OR
Open the display for a notebook computer.
Hibernate
Hibernate conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode.
NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your computer is in hibernate mode.
Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level becomes critically low.
To manually enter hibernate mode:
Click Start and move the pointer to the arrow icon by the Lock button. Then click Hibernate.
OR
Depending on how you set the power management options, you may also use one of the following methods to put your computer to sleep:
Press the power button.
Close the display for a notebook computer.
Press <Fn><Esc>.
NOTE: Some PC Cards or Express Cards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate. Remove and reinsert the card, or simply restart (reboot) your computer.
To exit hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about configuring power options, see Windows Help and Support: click Start
or ® Help and Support.
Windows® XP
Configuring Your Power Settings
Click Start®Control Panel®Performance and
Maintenance® Power Options.
In the Power Options Properties window, you can change the following
information to best support your computer:
Power Schemes — select preconfigured settings for your computer
Alarms — set alarms for low or critical battery power (laptop computers)
Power Meter — view the available battery power (laptop computers)
Advanced — select options for advanced power settings
Hibernate — select to enable or disable hibernation
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about configuring power option settings in Windows, see Windows Help and Support: click Start
or ® Help and Support.
Power Management Modes
Standby Mode
Standby conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When the computer exits standby, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering standby.
NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in standby, it may lose data.
To enter standby:
Click Start®Turn off computer®Stand by.
OR
Depending on how you set the power management options, you may also use one of the following methods:
Press the power button.
Close the display for a notebook computer.
Press <Fn><Esc>.
To exit standby, depending on how you set the power management options:
Press the power button.
OR
Open the display for a notebook computer.
Hibernate Mode
Hibernate conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate.
NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your computer is in hibernate mode.
Your computer enters hibernate if the battery charge level becomes critically low.
To manually enter hibernate:
Click Start ®Turn off computer. Then press and hold the <Shift> key, and click Hibernate.
OR
Depending on how you set the power management options, you may also use one of the following methods to enter hibernate:
Press the power button.
Close the display for a notebook computer.
Press <Fn><Esc>.
NOTE: Some PC Cards or Express Cards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate. Remove and reinsert the card, or simply restart (reboot) your computer.
To exit hibernate, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate.
Power Protection Devices
Interference or fluctuations in the power supplied to your computer can cause crashes and sometimes permanent damage to your computer. Surge protectors, power line conditioners, uninterruptible power supplies provide protection for your computer.
Surge Protector
Plug your computer power line into a surge protector or power strip equipped with surge protection to help prevent damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions.
Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage. Carefully read the device warranty when choosing a surge protector. A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection. Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different devices.
NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in your area, disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet.
Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.
NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the network cable from the network wall jack during electrical storms.
Power Line Conditioner
NOTICE: Power line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.
Plug your computer power line into a power line conditioner to compensate peaks and valleys in the power supply and reduce peaks in the power flow to your computer. Power line conditioners are different from the typical uninterruptible power supply in that they continuously charge the battery and continuously run the equipment off battery power.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage.
NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to a UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that provides surge protection.
An uniterruptible power supply (UPS) protects against power fluctuations and interruptions. UPS devices contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when AC power is interrupted. The battery charges while AC power is available.
See the UPS manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time and to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Laptop Computer Batteries
To ensure optimal performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your laptop computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.
Using Your Laptop Computer for the First Time
The first time you use your computer, use the AC adapter to connect your computer to an electrical outlet in case your battery is not fully charged. For best results, operate the computer with the AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view the battery charge status, check the Power Meter icon on the taskbar.
NOTE: To preserve battery power, connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD or DVD.
Preserving the Life of a Battery
The operating time of a battery, which is the time the battery can hold a charge, varies depending on how you use your laptop computer. The following will significantly reduce the operating time of your battery:
Using optical drives
Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, Express Cards, media memory cards, or USB devices
Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as complex 3D graphics applications
Running the computer in maximum performance mode (see Maintaining Your Computer for ways to adjust optimize your computer performance).
The life of the battery decreases over time depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used. You may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer.
CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.
CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing batteries. See "Battery Disposal" in the safety informationthat shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn. Do not puncture, incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage.
CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer, disconnect the modem from the wall connector and computer, and remove any other external cables from the computer.
NOTICE: You must remove all external cables from the computer to avoid possible connector damage.
Your battery will vary depending on your laptop computer. If you need to replace the battery in your laptop computer, follow these basic steps:
If the computer is connected to a docking device, undock it.
Ensure that the computer is turned off.
Slide the battery-bay latch release(s) on the bottom of the computer, and
slide the battery out of the bay.
Slide the new battery into the bay and until it clicks into place.
Checking the Battery Charge
You can check the battery charge on your computer using any one of the following methods:
Microsoft Windows Power Meter
The Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the amount of the power remaining on your battery, double-click the Power Meter icon in the taskbar.
Charge Gauge on the Battery
The operating time of a battery depends on the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health. That is, a battery can show a status of "charged" but maintain a reduced charge capacity, which is the health of the battery.
Charge Left on the Battery
To check the battery charge, press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the charge-level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge.
EXAMPLE: If the battery has 60 percent of its charge remaining, three of the lights are on. If no lights appear, the battery has no charge.
Checking the Health of the Battery
To check the battery health using the charge gauge, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds.
If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation.
If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery.
Understanding Low Battery Warnings
NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet, or install a second battery in the media bay if your laptop has this option. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.
Your laptop computer will display a warning when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. If you are using two batteries, the warning applies to the combined charge of both batteries. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about changing the settings for the battery alarms through the power management options in Windows, see Windows Help and Support: click Start
or ® Help and Support. Also, see Setting Power Options.
You can change the settings for the battery alarms through the power management options in Windows (see Setting Power Options).
Conserving Battery Power
To conserve battery power on your laptop computer, do any of the following:
Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible; battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged.
Configure the power management settings using Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer's power usage (see Setting Power Options).
Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time.
Charging the Battery
When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer checks the battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge.
NOTE: With Dell™ ExpressCharge™, when the computer is turned off, the AC adapter charges a completely discharged battery to 80 percent in about 1 hour and to 100 percent in approximately 2 hours. Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer for as long as you like. The battery's internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging.
If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an electrical outlet.
The battery is too hot to start charging if the
light flashes alternately green and orange (light colors may vary depending on your battery). Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery.
NOTE: You can operate your computer while the battery is charging. However, do not operate your computer using battery power until the battery is fully charged.
Storing a Battery
Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, recharge the battery fully before you use it.
US Department of Transportation (DOT) Notebook Battery Restrictions
As of January 1, 2008, the US DOT prohibits spare (loose) lithium batteries in checked baggage. A Dell notebook battery may be packed in a checked bag if the battery is installed in a Dell notebook and the notebook is switched Off.
HINT: To disable battery charging, you can use the Battery Charge Disable feature in Dell ControlPoint. This is useful, for example on airplanes, where charging of batteries may not be allowed.
Dell™ ControlPoint Power Manager
You can access the Dell ControlPoint Power Manager for your laptop computer from the Dell ControlPoint (DCP) application. The Dell ControlPoint icon appears on the taskbar. Click the icon to access Dell ControlPoint Help and additional features and options.
You can optimize the battery life for your laptop computer using the options available under All Day Battery mode or Extended Battery Life mode.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about using the Dell ControlPoint application, see the Help available from the main ControlPoint screen.
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light flashes alternately green and orange (light colors may vary depending on your battery). Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery.
